Stamkos and Lightning Blank 'Canes

Crazy bounce off the boards slips in behind Justin Peters to open scoring for the Lightning. Tampa Bay blanked Carolina 3-0 on 11/1/13. (Greg Thompson-Inside Hockey)Crazy bounce off the boards slips in behind Justin Peters to open scoring for the Lightning. Tampa Bay blanked Carolina 3-0 on 11/1/13. (Greg Thompson-Inside Hockey)

When the the Lightning play the Hurricanes it is always fun to try and come up with some weather related fun for an an opening sentence, so here goes my best shot. Please let the boo’s fly.

On a rainy night in Raleigh the Lightning downgraded Carolina to a tropical depression. The former division rivals were locked in a defensive struggle in the first 30 minutes. Combined the two teams managed a mere 8 shots in the first period. The tie was broken half-way through the second when a crazy bounce off the boards ended up behind Carolina goalie Justin Peters. Victor Hedman was credited with the goal and it all went downhill from there for the Hurricanes. Steven Stamkos netted his 10th of the year when he was left alone in front of Peters and moments later on a break-away Martin St Louis hit Alex Killorn with a perfect pass and Peters didn’t have a chance. The Hurricanes have now scored only four goals in their last four games while Steven Stamkos has scored five goals in his last five games.

Carolina won’t have much time to dwell on their first shut-out loss of the season as they boarded a plane for the Big Apple immediately following the game. They face Henrick Lunqvist and the Rangers on Saturday night.